After supporting Bharatiya Janata Party candidate in the presidential election, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati once again announced her party’s support for Jagdeep Dhankhar, the National Democratic Alliance candidate in the vice presidential election.
The former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh made this announcement through a series of tweets on Wednesday. Dhankhar is the NDA candidate in the vice presidential election, while the opposition's joint candidate is Margaret Alva.
In a tweet on Wednesday morning. Mayawati said that it was well known that due to lack of consensus between the ruling alliance and the opposition in the election for the country's highest post, the president, the election was for it. She said now due to the same situation, the election for the post of vice president was also going to be held on August 6.
Mayawati further wrote, The BSP has decided to extend its support to Jagdeep Dhankhar in such a situation, keeping in mind the wider public interest and its (BSP) movement, which I formally announced today,”
During the presidential election, Mayawati had announced her support to NDA's candidate Droupadi Murmu. At that time also, she had said the BSP had taken the decision neither in support of BJP or NDA nor against the opposition but keeping in mind her party and its movement.
The BSP has been taking decisions keeping in mind the weak, poor and marginalised sections of the people, she added.
The Election Commission of India has announced the schedule for the vice president’s election and for it voting will take place on August 6. Counting of votes will also be taken up on August 6.
The term of current Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu ends on August 10.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has declared West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar as the vice presidential candidate, while the opposition parties have chosen Margaret Alva as their candidate.
Like Jagdeep Dhankhar, Margaret Alva has also been a governor and she too has experience in administrative work.